Research Collection

Library & Archives

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum research collection is housed in the Library and Archives. The holdings contain several significant collections as well as general research material concerning the history of the Great Lakes. The Library and Archives contain approximately 8,000 books and 40,000 photographs in addition to personal and corporate memorabilia.

This image, from the Museum's archives, depicts the winter of 1891.

Research Requests

On-Site Research

The Library Reading Room is open for research by prior appointment during the Museum's regular operating hours, and is subject to staff availability. An appointment to do research must be made with at least one week advance notice to the Registrar/Collections Manager or Archives Assistant. Appointments on evenings or weekends will be granted when possible, but must be made at least two weeks in advance. Please arrange an appointment by contacting Archives Assistant Lisa Pike by email or by phone at (920) 684-0218 x113.

Staff are able to assist with research for those unable to visit the archives in person. Please contact Archives Assistant Lisa Pike by email or by phone at (920) 684-0218 x113 and provide as much detail as possible regarding your research request.

Up to 30 minutes of research will be performed free of charge, including up to 5 free photocopies. If requested, additional research can be conducted at a rate of $20/hour. Reproduction fees for additional photocopies, photographs, and ship plans can found on the Photo & Copying Services page.

Research Policy & Requests

The use of certain manuscripts, records, and photographs are restricted for preservation purposes. For this reason researchers should telephone or write ahead to the Registrar/Collections Manager in order to guarantee that the items that they are looking for are available. Filling out the below Research Request Form and submitting it to the Registrar/Collections Manager will assist the staff in this process.

Photo and copying services are currently available through the Museum. Please see Reproduction Services for more information.

The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in his/her use of manuscripts, photographs, and other materials.

The Homefront: Manitowoc County in World War II

Researchers may also find the The Homefront: Manitowoc County in World War II to be of value. It is a searchable digital collection that features materials from the collections of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Manitowoc County Historical Society, Manitowoc Public Library, Lester Public Library and others. It includes photographic images, oral histories, published sources and documents, artifacts, and other resources which help to document and explain the history of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin during the period from 1939 to 1947—both the more universally shared home front experiences and activities as they played out in this specific county, and those more unique activities which especially defined the area during the War.

The Wisconsin Maritime Museum is currently in our Winter season. Please click here for more information on our daily hours and submarines tour times. Tours are available throughout the day as needed, and are currently offered five days a week, weather permitting. Tour times vary by season. Allow three to four hours to fully explore both the Museum and tour USS Cobia. Group tours are available anytime with an advance reservation.